Veteran Marshall backs Nikorima in at halfback

BRONCOS veteran Benji Marshall says Kodi Nikorima deserves to start at halfback against the Storm if skipper Darius Boyd is fit to play in Friday night's preliminary final in Melbourne.

Boyd missed yesterday's training session for personal reasons and missed last week's win over the Panthers with a hamstring problem but Marshall expected the fullback to return this week.

Brisbane great Darren Lockyer said Marshall, who won the premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005, should be the one to lead the Broncos at halfback this week, but the 32-year-old said his younger teammate should get the gig.